It's exciting to be able to play a storied program like Notre Dame, but
it's certainly not a make or break situation for BYU if Notre Dame decides
to opt out of part of it's scheduled 6-game series with BYU.

I
still think there's a decent chance Notre Dame will keep the agreement with
BYU as is because the Irish want to continue playing in various parts of the
country, as well as, maintaining traditional rivalries with Navy, Michigan
State, Stanford, and USC.

Michigan and Purdue are the odd men out
since Notre Dame already has regular games scheduled in the Midwest against
Michigan State.

Other than that, who has a crystal bell when
it comes to colllege football schedules, aliances, conferences, etc? The future
is uncertain, just like the picture regarding a national play-off. The BCS is
on shaky ground and should have been revamped years ago.

With Notre Dame out of the picture as much for B1G teams it'll open up for
teams like BYU to pick up more games. I can imagine BYU playing Michigan, Ohio
State, and all the others in the B1G.

Notre Dame might opt out of the
BYU games but I kind of doubt it. The ACC is on ESPN and Notre Dame will do
more to keep ESPN happy (so that when it comes time to re-up their own NBC deal
ESPN won't get in the way as badly as they could) than to keep off and on
rivalries with B1G teams alive, and since ESPN helped get BYU that Notre Dame
series it should be OK. Notre Dame is much less powerful than they once were,
and while they still hold a few cards they'll want to keep the 800lb
Gorilla of ESPN happy. But all this remains to be seem.

My question is why doesn't this trigger a memo in the minds at BYU. Per the
article: "Our job is to find opponents that are exciting for our
student-athletes as well as our fans to replace Notre Dame."".

Why is BYU not all over this??? It seems there are plenty of opportunities to
schedule good games, but they keep making excuses that it is so difficult. Get
after it already...

Notre Dame has a 2 for 1 deal with BYU - 2 home games for 1 away game. Even ND
will not find many teams of BYU's notoriety that will take a 2 for 1 deal.
Notre Dame will keep the 6 games with BYU, regardless of the Michigan decision.

@hoopty6 - Have you seen BYU's 2013 schedule? BYU doesn't have all of
its future schedules solidified but the 11 games already solidified for 2013
should resolve the concerns of BYU fans who think BYU won't be able to
create a quality schedule as an independent.

The only reason to keep BYU is to play a cup cake, that's it. Notre Dame
has already said they are focusing on recruiting areas. The beehive state is not
high on their list. That's why they will keep playing USC & Stanford in
the California market. ND already does well recruiting in the midwest and
especially Michigan. And it just might happen to Perdue & Michigan St as
well. Big 10 schools are reviving scheduling talks with Pac 12 teams again. And
even Boise St. & Big 12 teams are in the mix. Why is there hardly a peep
about the Cougars?

If you don't like what I am saying. Look at
what is coming out of South Bend, Indiana and Big 10 media outlets today.

The decision by ND is very revealing. They just dumped a long time rival
with a storied program. What do you honestly think that says about the
relationship between BYU & ND? On top of that ND will keep its rivalry with
Navy.

Just watch. ND will make more changes and announces a series
with Texas, TCU or A&M to have the Texas football market covered for
recruiting.

@ NightOwlAmerica "The only reason to keep BYU is to play a cup cake. The
decision by ND is very revealing. They just dumped a long time rival with a
storied program. What do you honestly think that says about the relationship
between BYU & ND?"

A cup cake? Really? I guess I always
looked at cup cakes as teams who are ranked above 50 or so. BYU was ranked in
the Top 25 last year in case you missed the news flash. BYU vs ND would have
been a great game last year. This year, I give the edge to ND. But I'll
bet you that BYU will win at least 2 of the 6 games against ND, and maybe 3.

As for your second question, you missed the boat. Dumping Michigan and
Purdue, is an reflection of NDs relation with the Big 10, and has nothing to do
with BYU. ND tried to negotiate to move to the Big 10 with all sports but
football, and the Big 10 said all or nothing. So ND moved to ACC and will now
avoid playing Big 10 teams in FB to make a point.

".....As for your second question, you missed
the boat. Dumping Michigan and Purdue, is an reflection of NDs relation with the
Big 10, and has nothing to do with BYU. ND tried to negotiate to move to the Big
10 with all sports but football, and the Big 10 said all or nothing. So ND moved
to ACC and will now avoid playing Big 10 teams in FB to make a point."

I never said BYU had anything to do with ND's relationship with the
Big 10. Since ND dumped Michigan what does that say about BYU? Their
contract is not set in stone. And ND can break it.

BYU wants to be
the ND of the West, allegedly. But ND is not really independent anymore. You
know I wish BYU would indeed join a conference, even get a deal like ND. Because
I would hate to see some BYU fans here implode and take green jello to a new
extreme.

As an indie you have to fight to schedule 12 games. A ND
deal or full conference affiliation means guaranteed scheduling of five to nine
games a season. What you rather have?

Sorry to burst your crimson-colored BYU-hating bubble,
but if Notre Dame decides to keep BYU on its schedule, what it says about BYU is
the Cougars are such a well-respected program that a storied program like Notre
Dame would WANT to play the Cougars.

Sorry to burst your
crimson-colored BYU-hating bubble, but if Notre Dame decides to keep BYU on its
schedule, what it says about BYU is the Cougars are such a well-respected
program that a storied program like Notre Dame would WANT to play the
Cougars.